A day of hiking at a remote waterfall in Northern California ended in tragedy after three men jumped into the water and never resurfaced.
Now, authorities have recovered their bodies and revealed harrowing new details about the rescue mission that spanned several days.
Hike Turns Deadly at Rattlesnake Falls
On Wednesday, June 18, six men were hiking near Rattlesnake Falls, a secluded area in Soda Springs, California, when three of them decided to jump into the water at the base of the falls.
According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), their friends quickly reported that the men never came back up, PEOPLE reports.
The location, several miles into a steep and treacherous trail, is known for its beauty — but also its dangers. Law enforcement described the terrain as “extremely remote and difficult to access,” which made the ensuing rescue efforts “especially challenging", per Fox News.
Emergency teams, including the PCSO Dive Team, Search and Rescue units, CAL FIRE’s Technical Rescue Team, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), were dispatched to the area. A helicopter from CHP was used to evacuate the three surviving hikers on June 19, as conditions on the ground proved too hazardous.
Search operations were repeatedly stalled due to poor weather and powerful water currents. Still, crews pushed forward, determined to bring closure to the victims’ families.
Bodies Recovered in Remote, Icy Waters
After days of intensive searching, the sheriff’s office confirmed on June 22 that the three missing men had been found dead.
They were identified as Matthew Schoenecker of Los Angeles, Matthew Anthony of New York City, and Valentino Creus, also from Los Angeles.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” the PCSO said in a public statement.
Volunteer diver Juan Heredia, who was part of the recovery mission, shared emotional insights into the grueling conditions. In a Facebook post, Heredia said he and a teammate hiked more than three hours just to reach the area, where they dove into “ice water” multiple times.
“We couldn’t wait. I knew it could take weeks to surface. Families needed to close this chapter already,” Heredia wrote. He added that after contacting authorities around 9 p.m., a sergeant told him: “We’re going to send a team to walk right now to take care of the bodies.”
Families Given ‘Closure’ After Tragic Loss
Heredia’s team worked tirelessly to help the families begin what he described as their “healing process.” One video shared from the scene shows a diver navigating through the raging current, pulling rope near the base of the falls.
“That right there… that’s heart,” Heredia reflected, commending the swift response and cooperation from the sheriff’s department.
Soda Springs, where the tragedy occurred, is located roughly 26 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe — a region that, while breathtaking, presents serious risks to even experienced hikers.
Our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.